(Nanowerk News) From August 07 to September 26, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will present the exhibition "Wunderkammer Wissenschaft" (Cabinet of scientific curiosities) of the Helmholtz Association at ZKM | Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie (Center for Arts and Media Technology). In the evening of August 06, the exhibition will be opened together with the exhibition "The Song of the Line. Stephan von Huene - Zeichnungen aus fünf Jahrzehnten".

Science is esthetic. Beyond non-understandable technical terms and dry formulas, the traveling exhibition "Wunderkammer Wissenschaft" (Cabinet of scientific curiosities) presents fascinating pictures for the visitors to be amazed and to relax. The 16 centers of the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of National Research Centers present parts of their work. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), also a member of the Helmholtz Association, is represented by the topics of Fuel from Straw, Grid Computing, Nanostructures, and Summit Station.

Various nanostructure images from the exhibition.

The exhibition intentionally focuses on pictures: On large screens, 16 "cabinets" present animated close-up views of nanopyramids and biological structures, provide insight into complex measurement instrument and experiments, and allow for views on extreme landscapes and cosmic catastrophes. They make the original impulse of exploration a real experience – the amazement about the wonders of the world. In this way, the exhibition wants to define itself against previous scientific exhibitions focusing on experiments and their relevance to research and our everyday life.

Cabinets of curiosities have a long tradition. In early times, they collected and presented bizarre objects of nature, science, and arts. They imaged the world in miniature in order to learn to understand it and, hence, were the nuclei of many scientific collections and museums. On several communication levels, information can be obtained about the pictures shown, their contents, the research topics, and the institutions involved. With the help of a self-compilable exhibition catalog, the visitors can immerse deeper into what they have seen.

The exhibition will also be open during the Karlsruhe Museum Night KAMUNA on August 07, 2010. In addition, it will be part of the Germany-wide and state-wide "Day of Energy" on September 25, 2010. On this day, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology will organize an open house event on Campus North.